This is the time of year when archived footage shows up for an NFL superstar from where it all began — the NFL Scouting Combine.
Tom Brady and his 2000 workout annually became popular before the world got to know him as a seven-time Super Bowl winner. But with three Super Bowl titles now in tow, Patrick Mahomes and his viral performance are growing in popularity during Combine week.
How Did Patrick Mahomes Perform at His Combine? A Look Back
Mahomes was once measured at 6’2″, 225 pounds ahead of his workout.
He was also revealed to have 9 1/4-inch hands and a wingspan of 33 inches.
Was Mahomes one of the fastest quarterbacks in Indianapolis in 2017?
It turns out that Mahomes ran below the five-second mark for his 40-yard dash time. He settled for a 4.8 time on both of his runs. Before the Combine, Mahomes sent this request to the NFL Network:
“As the Combine starts this week, all I ask is that NFL Network doesn’t use my 40 overlay anymore,” Mahomes asked on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Unfortunately, the network failed to honor his humorous request — even pairing his time with a current defensive lineman running in Thursday’s event. Braden Fiske of Florida State, all 6’3″, 292 pounds of him, was shown to be 0.02 seconds faster than the three-time Super Bowl winner.
whoops 😅 https://t.co/XaWH8bp2fn pic.twitter.com/gmWUY7MEkE
— NFL (@NFL) February 29, 2024
So Mahomes is officially slower than the current fastest interior defensive linemen ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft class. But what else was a part of Mahomes’ Combine and draft process?
The NFL QB to Whom Mahomes Was Once Compared
While Mahomes’ pro career is now being compared to the legendary Brady, Mahomes was never attached to Brady’s name before he went No. 10 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In fact, Mahomes was compared to a polarizing past Pro Bowl passer: Jay Cutler.
Why the Cutler comparison? NFL Network draft expert Lance Zierlein saw how Mahomes had more than just an intriguing arm and came with a confidence to him that mirrored Cutler’s.
“Mahomes is a big, confident quarterback who brings a variety of physical tools to the party, but he’s developed some bad habits and doesn’t have a very repeatable process as a passer,” the evaluation wrote.
Still, Mahomes displayed a knack for improvising and extending plays from his Texas Tech days, which NFL fans have grown used to. His ceiling was still considered high before he threw his first NFL pass.
KEEP READING: NFL Fans React to Tom Brady Running the 40-Yard Dash Again
Mahomes, in the end, did enough to convince the Chiefs to make him their future QB1 during a time when KC was going to the playoffs with veteran Alex Smith. Now, the rest is history, as Mahomes has become a two-time Most Valuable Player and created a new NFL dynasty in Kansas City with three titles since the 2019 season.
All the 2024 NFL Draft resources you need — the draft order, the top QBs, the Top 100 prospects, and the full 2024 Big Board — right at your fingertips at Pro Football Network!